The Cumbria Way

Quick Facts

Highlights

Walking the Cumbria Way from South to North across the English Lake District

Picture perfect Lakeland views of Tarn Howes and the Coniston fells.

The breathtaking, rugged beauty of the Lake District.

The famous Cumbrian hospitality.

The bustle of the Lakeland towns and galleries.

The Cumbria Way is a classic 72 mile walk across the Lake District from South to North. On your walk from Ulverston to Carlisle, though the natural beauty of the Lake District, you will follow in the footsteps of the romantic poets Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southley and discover how being immersed in the inspiring scenery of the Lake District inspired them to create some of the country’s best known verse.

The Cumbria Way begins in the market town of Ulverston, with its cobbled streets and festival atmosphere and takes you north via Coniston, Great Langdale, Rosthwaite, Derwent Water, Keswick and Caldbeck to Carlisle.

A predominantly low level walk, but with some significant climbs, the Cumbria Way is a fine way to explore the best of the English Lake District in a week of inn to inn walking.

This is a general stage by stage guide. For all the available day by day itineraries, please see the options on the right.

Arrive Starting Point: Ulverston

Ulverston is easily reached by train from Manchester Airport (2h20) or London (4h20). Ulverston is a delightful friendly town with a unique charm. Olde worlde pubs, cafes and cobbled streets hold many surprises.

Ulverston to Coniston - 16 Miles

Starting from The Gill and perhaps paying a visit to the Laurel & Hardy Museum or Barrow Monument, you quickly leave Ulverston. A pleasant walk through rich farmland soon brings you to the Lake District National Park and the views across the Coniston Fells are splendid. A rough Lakeland path brings the chimneys of Coniston Hall into view, which marks days end.

Now mainly a base for outdoor enthusiasts, Coniston was originally a slate mining village. Famous for being the site of Donald Campbell's ill-fated world record water speed attempt, it is a lovely town and nearby Tarn Howes is one of the lakes most popular beauty spots.

Coniston to Great Langdale - 13 Miles

An absolutely delightful day of Lakeland walking delivers views that will take your breath away. Elterwater and Chapel Stile both make excellent lunch stops. Dungeon Ghyll is just one of a few hamlets and lodgings which have been welcoming Lakeland travellers for centuries.

Great Langdale to Rosthwaite - 10 Miles

The amazing Mickleden Valley makes up most of your walk, surrounded by Bowfell and the Pikes. Then a zig-zag ascent up the fellside before dropping back down into Langstrath valley. The view down to Rosthwaite is one you won’t forget in a hurry.

Rosthwaite is a small village with a couple of hotels and pubs tucked away at the head of the valley. You can’t help but feel relaxed.

Rosthwaite to Keswick - 6 Miles

First the delightful Borrowdale Valley and then tranquil woodland walking with views to Derwent Water. Walking in the Lake District simply doesn’t get any better. You would be foolish to miss the tea shop at Grange!

Keswick is the largest tourist centre in the Northern lakes and can get busy. There is plenty to do in this buzzy lakes town.

Keswick to Caldbeck - 16 Miles

There is a choice today between a high level walk or a low level one today. The low level walk is a little longer, but a much easier option. Either taking the route over the fell tops or skirting round the bottom, you are assured a great days walking.

Caldbeck was once a thriving industrial town with woollen mills, bobbin mills and a brewery all powered by the river which runs through the town. (Caldbeck) Today it is a friendly and proud village largely untouched by tourism.

Caldbeck to Carlisle - 15 Miles

Leaving the Lake District behind you walk through the rich farmlands of the Eden Valley, escorted most of the way by the river Caldew before reaching the historic City of Carlisle. Carlisle has plenty of places to visit and welcoming pubs and restaurants to celebrate the end of your walk on the Cumbria Way.

Depart Carlisle

Carlisle is on the West Coast mainline and regular trains will whisk you back to London, Manchester (with a change at Preston or Wigan) or Ulverston (Change at Lancaster).

Accommodation

One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of the accommodation. You will stay in carefully selected 3 or 4 star B&B’s, guesthouses, country pubs and small hotels. Your room will always have an ensuite or private bathroom. A delicious breakfast is always included.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you subject to availability. A single supplement is payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included. Most of your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs or restaurants.

Additional Nights

The Lakes are utterly beguiling and we would recommend adding extra nights at Coniston, to explore some of the history of the area and beautiful landscapes, Great Langdale to enjoy a quiet corner of the lakes or Keswick to do some shopping, cruise on Derwent Water or climb Skiddaw.

Virginia House - Ulverston

A friendly, family run Georgian Town House, offering excellent accommodation. There are a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants close by in the centre of Ulverston where you will be able to get evening meals.

Lakeland House - Coniston

Lakeland House is ideally situated in the heart of Coniston village and just a few minutes walk from the beautiful Coniston Water, shops and dining. All the rooms have en-suite facilities and most have stunning views of the village, fells and Coniston Old Man.

Royal Oak Hotel - Rosthwaite

The Royal Oak is a small family run hotel, Once an 18th Century farmhouse the hotel has been accommodating walkers for over 100 years and is still the perfect base for exploring the beauty of the Northern Lakes.

Langleigh Guest House - Carlisle

Langleigh Guest House is situated on a quiet tree lined street a few minute’s walk from the centre of Carlisle. All rooms are en-suite and very comfortable.

Availability

The Cumbria Way is available to start daily between April and October. Select which itinerary you would prefer and then select your preferred start date.

Keswick and Coniston are very busy over the weekend and accommodation will generally only take a minimum of a 2 night stay. So please try and avoid starting on a day that would mean an overnight stay in these locations on a Friday or Saturday night.

Walking Direction

We recommend you walk from Ulverston to Carlisle as you will have the wind at your back.

Navigation

The Cumbria Way is generally clearly defined on the ground but waymarking is sparse so you will need to be comfortable reading a map and know how to use a compass.

Grade

The way is on well maintained footpaths, bridleways, across fields and on some minor roads. It does involve some steep ascent and descent from the escarpment but in general the walking is fairly easy.

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg, as if this occurs, the luggage transfer company will ask you to pay an additional fee (approx. £8.50 per day, per bag). This additional payment, should it be necessary, needs to be made locally to the driver and in cash. Any additional bags need to labelled as if they are not labelled we cannot guarantee that they will reach you at the next accommodation.

If you are travelling from far afield and do have more than one bag it is possible to arrange for the extra luggage to be stored whilst you are on the tour for a fee of £25 per bag. These additional bags would be picked up at your accommodation at the start point (St Bees or Kirkby Stephen) and dropped off wherever you finish depending on the itinerary you choose to do. Please contact us if you are interested in this option.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Solo Walkers

This walking holiday is available to solo walkers but as we incur additional baggage transfer costs there is a solo walker supplement payable.

Getting to Ulverston

Ulverston is easily reached by train from Manchester Airport (2h20) or London (3h20). See National Rail Enquiries for details.

It is also serviced by National Express coaches and easily reached by car.

You can find information for travelling to and from Cumbria by clicking on the Traveline Website.

Getting back from Carlisle

Carlisle is on the West Coast mainline and regular trains will whisk you back to London (3h55), Manchester (2h10) (with a change at Preston or Wigan) or Ulverston (2h05) (Change at Lancaster).

Included

Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Excluded

Travel to the start or from the finish of the walk.

Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks.

Travel Insurance.

Personal Equipment.

Extras

Single room supplement

Solo walker supplement

Extra nights - We suggest you extend your stay in the Lakes with an extra night in either Coniston, Great Langdale or Keswick.

We are often asked the following questions by walkers planning The Cumbria Way and I hope that you will find the following information useful.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

How fit do I need to be?

We offer a range of itineraries so you can choose your preferred daily distance so hopefully you will find an itinerary that suits your preferred level of activity. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.

How far in advance do I need to book?

As far in advance as possible! We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as The Lake District is extremely popular. If booking at short notice we will always try and accommodate your plans.

What personal equipment do I need?

You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc.

When is the best time of year?

The Cumbria Way is very enjoyable at any time between April and mid October.

Am I able to take my dog?

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.

What happens if I can’t walk a stage?

You can use local bus services or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop.

Just returned from a most enjoyable and memorable week of walking the Cumbria Way. We parked the car at 'Parksafe' in Lancaster and used the train to Ulverston and back from Carlisle - highly recommended. The accommodation was ideal - friendly landlords/ladies, comfortable, en suite, and with excellent breakfasts every day. If you can read maps then the route is easy to follow. It's not too tough, the highest climb being 'just' 480 metres over Stake Pass, but some of the route is quite rugged, so good quality, well-worn, waterproof boots are essential. Aged 46, 61 and 76, we were not the youngest party ever to walk the Cumbria Way, so we chose the lower, western route at Skiddaw House. If you follow our example, then please don't take a detour to the pub at Bassenthwaite - it's a 3 mile detour, but the pub is closed until 16:00. Still, that was our only piece of bad planning. Due to the damage caused by the 2016 floods we had to follow a couple of detours north of Caldbeck. Maps, compass and the ability to use them are essential for the first of these detour (Caldbeck to Dentonside Wood)Overall, the Cumbria Way is highly recommended.

We really enjoyed this walk. It took us through some of the most beautiful parts of The Lake District, but it was a significant challenge. We split the distance over 6 days which was a good idea as days 1,2, 5 and 6 were all long days. The terrain involves quite a degree of ascent/descent, and the path is pretty rough in many places. Good sound footwear(Boots) and two walking poles are highly recommended. Unlike some long distance paths (e.g. The West Highland way) where signage is consistent and plentiful, the route is quite unclear in many places and calls upon walkers to have good map reading /GPS using skills. The route was lovely everywhere apart from the final miles from Dalston into Carlisle due to inconsiderate dog walkers.

The Cumbria Way gives you the chance to see Lakeland without those tough climbs, I was delighted with the number of peaks that we passed. We chose a 7 night 5 day walk which was just right and enabled us to stay in some off the iconic lakes towns.

Macs was infallible when it came to organizing the logistics for this trip. As an administrator - and somewhat of a control freak - it was a pleasure to be able to count of the team to manage the finer details of the trip. And indeed, it was precisely these details that made the trip worthwhile.

The baggage transfer and quality accommodation were two key factors that allowed us not to worry about much; the information package also contained most of the vital info which allowed us to focus on our walking and not on where we would have to sleep or eat that evening.

This walk comes with some serious bragging rights and a sense of real accomplishment (even for those, who don't do the whole thing... shhhhh!)

Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend

Images shared by Monika from Switzerland

Herdwick love

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Images shared by Monika from Switzerland

Coniston on a gorgeous day

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Another well organised trip with Macs. All accommodation very good, clean and wonderful hosts - The Yewdale Hotel deserves a specific mention for its excellent customer service and serving of OP, along with Nan at Swaledale - albeit some came close to the 'shabby chic' description it all added to the atmosphere and made a welcome change to faceless hotels. Bags arrived with no hassle and often delivered to the room which was a bonus. The start of the Cumbria Way is well signposted the end is a bit of an anti-climax as for the bit in the middle well you need to experience it to understand but in parts breath taking. Don't expect too many markers - or people, you really need to be competent with map reading and be prepared for the 15 mile walks of which there were 3 on our trip one on the first day. Thank you to everyone we met along the way you made our recreational madness special even the weather behaved. P.S. Hurray for the Hut!

The Lake District was a wonderful contrast to our Colorado Rockies! Lush green landscapes and lots of sheep, quaint villages, beautiful tarns and lakes; each day was unique and stunning. Our bags were always waiting for us when we arrived, inn proprietors were so friendly and welcoming, helping us with suggestions for dinner or the next pot of tea with scones. Very comfortable accommodations. We loved visiting with other walkers in Rosthwaite! All too soon it was over.

The Cumbria Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights

This itinerary splits the longer day allowing you to spend more time in Keswick and Borrowdale

Availability: April - September

Day 1: Arrive Ulverston
Day 2: Walk to Coniston: 16m
Day 3: Walk to Great Langdale: 13m
Day 4: Walk to Rosthwaite: 10m
Day 5: Walk to Keswick: 6m
Day 6: Walk to Caldbeck: 16m
Day 7: Walk to Carlisle: 15m
Day 8: Onward Travel

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Itinerary

Please choose from one of the following itineraries.

Is this tour for me?

The Cumbrian Way provides a chance to escape to one of the most beautiful areas of England. Enjoy picture perfect Lakeland landscapes and revel in the poetic romance of the Lakes. Well marked walking and gentle terrain make for an inspiring and relaxing week.

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